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Got a flu shot today. This is just a nudge post to consider getting one.

You know I am getting one. Not gonna let all those ferrets' sacrifices go to waste!

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I'm thinking I'll move my shot up to now. You've got to watch these diabolical and filthy kids, who are out having unprotected contact.

We were just at this Fall festival. We got some food (bad choice already) and I laid it down (still wrapped) on this condiment table. This little girl stood exactly at the height of the table. She repeatedly coughed all over my food. It was almost like she was doing it on purpose. Her mom just stood there and did nothing. I told her, "Hon, you should turn your head and cough into your sleeve. You're coughing on all our food." Her mom didn't like that. I threw my food away. Saved me the calories.

I just went in Tues for my 92nd lab draw in 20 yrs, and they stabbed me with a flu shot too. They stabbed me with an annual TB test too, which is being "read" today (although I can already see that it's non-reactive).

I just got the 3rd HPV series vaccine and the Pnuemonia vaccine on the same day. I figured I would wait a week or two before getting the flu shot. Is that necessary? Or should I have gotten them all on the same day

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

I was thinking that wasn't many as well, not for a twenty year span anyway. I've had 71 so far in twelve years, not counting ones that had nothing to do with hiv or hcv. I've probably had about three or four non-virus related blood draws in the time at my GPs or other doctor. I only know how many I've had because I just now counted the number of results I have and added in the monthly CBC and liver enzyme tests I had during hcv treatment - it's not something I normally bother keeping track of.

I saw my GP earlier this week and forgot to ask about this year's flu jab - because I forgot to write it down on my list. I doubt that they're available here yet anyway, as the local post office and some shops display signs reminding seniors to get theirs done when they're in. Haven't seen any signs so far this year.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I just got the 3rd HPV series vaccine and the Pnuemonia vaccine on the same day. I figured I would wait a week or two before getting the flu shot. Is that necessary? Or should I have gotten them all on the same day

Of course, one should check with their doctor..... but I don't see the need to wait. I had 5 or 6 in about 15 min timespan the day before I deployed to Iraq for Desert Storm. Made for a couple of sore arms for a day or two, but otherwise I was fine.

I'm just glad this R/T/N regimen has worked so well. For many years ( the first 10) I got lab work done every 4-6 weeks; but these days (during the 10 yrs) it's dwindled down little by little until it's just twice a year.

I was thinking that wasn't many as well, not for a twenty year span anyway. I've had 71 so far in twelve years, not counting ones that had nothing to do with hiv or hcv. I've probably had about three or four non-virus related blood draws in the time at my GPs or other doctor. I only know how many I've had because I just now counted the number of results I have and added in the monthly CBC and liver enzyme tests I had during hcv treatment - it's not something I normally bother keeping track of.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I saw my GP earlier this week and forgot to ask about this year's flu jab - because I forgot to write it down on my list. I doubt that they're available here yet anyway, as the local post office and some shops display signs reminding seniors to get theirs done when they're in. Haven't seen any signs so far this year.

I was at my local GP surgery a couple of weeks ago, I found myself sitting there for quite some time reading the seemingly ancient magazines and then I saw a poster reminding certain risk groups (guess that includes us) that the seasonal flu jab is now available. So I guess that means they are available unless this poster was like the magazines extremely outdated (quite possibly).

Since I tested positive earlier this year I have been debating this.. I have not had a flu shot since I left the Army in 1991. During that time I have gotten the flu maybe three times. My ID doctor was shocked that I it had been over 20 years since I have gotten one. We got into a discussion about this and she gets one every year and still has had the flu 5 or 6 times in the last 20 years. Yes, I understand that I am at a greater risk, but although I was just recently diagnosed I have likely been positive for a couple of years. I didn't even know there was a vaccine for pneumonia until I went to see my ID doc.

Since I tested positive earlier this year I have been debating this.. I have not had a flu shot since I left the Army in 1991. During that time I have gotten the flu maybe three times. My ID doctor was shocked that I it had been over 20 years since I have gotten one. We got into a discussion about this and she gets one every year and still has had the flu 5 or 6 times in the last 20 years. Yes, I understand that I am at a greater risk, but although I was just recently diagnosed I have likely been positive for a couple of years. I didn't even know there was a vaccine for pneumonia until I went to see my ID doc.

Remember when swine flu was in the news? Well, now that type of flu is in the annual flu shot, but before that portion was included I was one of the unfortunate people who actually managed to catch it. And you know how much it made my cd4 count change? I lost over 700 cd4s. Now, going by your signature line would you like that to happen?

Aside from that, I've had a flu shot every year for 19 years, and in terms of "non-swine flu" types of flu I've not had that happen, meaning no "regular" cases of having the flu. And my possible exposures would be higher than the normal person as all during that time I've not owned a car and have taken public transportation.

I was at my local GP surgery a couple of weeks ago, I found myself sitting there for quite some time reading the seemingly ancient magazines and then I saw a poster reminding certain risk groups (guess that includes us) that the seasonal flu jab is now available. So I guess that means they are available unless this poster was like the magazines extremely outdated (quite possibly).

It's more likely recent, as GP surgeries do tend to keep their posters more up-to-date than their magazines. Mine does anyway (and they depend on "new" magazines being brought in by patients who would have binned them otherwise, so take your old magazines in with you next time).

We usually seem to get our seasonal flu vacs here on the Rock in a few weeks later than you lot do on the mainland, so we should be getting ours soon. They usually arrive in early October, if memory serves.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Nice map. Although I think a link to the image would have been better.It makes my browser (firefox) slow to a crawl when trying to scroll past it.I ended up having to block images from that site to get the browser scrollto work in this thread.

Nice map. Although I think a link to the image would have been better.It makes my browser (firefox) slow to a crawl when trying to scroll past it.I ended up having to block images from that site to get the browser scrollto work in this thread.

Me too. Bug, could you please edit your post and only provide the link to the page where that graphic appears? Thanks. If you can't do it, I can do it for you.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

It has been five years so it is also time for my pneumonia vaccine in addition to the annual flu shot. I am going overseas in November so I am going to get my shots this week now that they are available at the pharmacy (gone are the days that you need to go to the doctor's office to do this in America!)

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

One should at least read the complete abstract as the title is a bit obscure

I plan to discuss this matter with my Doc before making a final decision, but appointment is in 2 months...

and my point is only about one only leap year, after all...

No-one in my family is taking the flu shot and they never get the the flu. They try to convince me not to take the shot as being pointless. Me, I think the flu shot is very beneficial, so, I made a deal: they take the shot this year and I don't.

Hope the above reference may be of help for those who have an interest in this matter

Was that phrase in the mouth of those Canadian HIV veteran virologist :

(quote)our observation of disproportionately high levels of provirus in influenza-specific cells at baseline indicates that this may represent a real increase that is cumulative over multiple annual vaccinations. (/unquote)

enough to make you think this matter over....

Seasonal flu does differ from year to year, but not to the extend that a patient does not have the freedom to reflect on the pros and cons...

H1N1, on the other hand was NOT like seasonal flu. and the vaccine for H1N1 was in the shot I got last year and the year before. It is reasonable to think that anyone who has not yet received H1N1 vaccine should seriously revisit in favor of vaccination...

Aside from this very unique type of flu, considering a leap year from time to time way be worth considering.

If I understand what this abstract even says LOL, especially when looking at that last missing line, is that after a flu shot it was noticed that flu-specific cd4 cells increased, along with a slight increase in those cells producing HIV virions. That only makes sense as the shot activates the production of more flu cd4s, which are then affected by the HIV reservoirs, producing more HIV.

However, shouldn't ART take care of this slight increase in HIV pretty quickly? It seems like even though there very well might be a slight viral load increase after a flu shot, it seems it would be so short lived as to not register on an immediate blood draw (the effect of the shot increasing the flu cd4s and that increasing the HIV wouldn't happen that fast), much less a draw a day or two later?

Perhaps a viral load test done 6-8 hours after a flu shot might register this slight blip; but with the science saying it "failed to reach statistical significance" and the efficacy of ART to wipe out this blip, it doesn't seem much to worry about at all - certainly not in light of the negative side effects of actually having the flu.